CharlieDoggo Update
21Charlie wanted me to tell everyone he said WOOF!!!
He had had a tough few months which resulted in finding out he had developed bladder stones and yesterday he had surgery to have them removed.
He is very drugged and groggy but continues to hold me to his consistently high standards.
He is refusing to eat kibble but will eat saltine crackers if they are broken into small pieces and hand fed to him.
He is also refusing to go into his giant crate that is set up with his pillows and his favorite blanket. I open the door and he stumbles away in slow motion causing me to just walk aimlessly around the house.
Anyway, Im happy surgery was successful and will anxiously await the results of the test they are doing to detetmine ehat needs to be done to make his bladder a less hospitable environment for stones to develop
Charlie is angling for more treats lol
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Head pats and belly rubs for Charlie. Wishing the best going forward.
@capnjb thanks. Will go w the head pats from you for now. The incision is on his belly so he is protecting that area.
ear scritches for Charlie. Bladder Stones are no fun. One of my cats had them once.
@ironcheftoni how was recovery for your kitty? The surgeon told me ~2 weeks.
He is still peeing blood, but it is very faint.
And he said thanks for the ear rubs. He especially loves them because the cone aggrivates that area.
@tinamarie1974 I think I remember it was 3 to 4 weeks. He was a cat of size. In the cat size chart, he was “megachonker”
@ironcheftoni aawww so he was just extra loveable.
Charlies vet called him a little chonky. Said he needed to lose 5 lbs. Charlie is not happy with the idea of less food/treats.
@ironcheftoni @tinamarie1974 when kitkat had them they were more “sand” than stones. which just blocked his urethra so was emergency surgery cause he couldn’t pee at all/was going to go toxic in 24 hours.
I know they scraped his bladder and a recommended option was to remove/enlarge “the obstruction” (his penus) so he could pass blockages better without almost dying.
He just had to stay after the surgery for a week with a catheter/anesthesia. And I changed his food after for some urinary tract specific stuff and was fine for a decadeish. Not sure how much that applies to dogs though.
Oh noes … the Cone of Shame!
@MarkDaSpark
either that, or a giant funnel for his PB treats!!
Get well soon buddy … Mommy misses you.
@chienfou oh he is home. He is heavily drugged and uncomfortable all at once. He feels a constant need to urinate so if he is not outside he is inside begging me to go out. It doesnt stop unless he is in his crate sleeping.
They said it will get better in a few days. Hoping so.
@tinamarie1974
Hoping for speedy and full recovery!
That cone looks huge! He must be so uncomfortable. I hope he feels better really soon!
@cf1 yeah, he has a long face so it is enormous. That said my sattelite signal is so clear…I kid!!!
Awww, poor doggo. Peanut butter treats are the best medicine. I am sure of it.
@speediedelivery this is what he is telling me. I may have given him one this am to get him to start eating
OHES NOES!! I hope you feel better soon @CharlieDoggo
I hope you get to enjoy lots of PB treats for your troubles.
@yakkoTDI he is pretty peckish today. Id be thrilled to shower him w them of he would eat. Im just happy he is drinking.
Could be the codine causing constipation
@tinamarie1974 @yakkoTDI
Yep. Any of the opiates will do that. Had to give laxatives to our cat when Bandit was being treated for his femur fracture.
I’m sorry @ironcheftoni! We just finally got Willows cone off the other day. I’m over the doggo mishaps. Hopefully Charlie recovers quickly. I highly recommend the inflatable donut type cones. That was the only way we could get Bodhi in his kennel with one on. Willow had to have the traditional cone because her injury was too her ear and she could still scratch at it with the donut. I’m making some peanut butter banana treats this weekend. Maybe we will have to send him some! Shoot me your address and I’ll get them in the post next week.
@sillyheathen he is actually my good boy
I tried the inflatable thing a few years ago when he had to have a toe amputation and it didnt work. His face was too long. So sadly the cone of shame it is, but thanks it was a good recommendation.
I even asked about those surgical recovery suits, but the Dr didnt feel they provided enough protection.
He was pretty quiet today, but I think his Trazadone was too strong. Im cutting it back to see if he is still calm but less
. Fingers crossed it works.
@tinamarie1974 man. Bodhi and trazodone alone didn’t work. After he was neutered and after his ball eating surgery, they had him on 300mg of gabapentin and 200mg of trazodone because he’s such a nutter.
@sillyheathen oh no, its not just trazadone.
He is on Codine, Gabapentin, Cerenia, amox and Trazadone. For the Trazadone I can give him between 100-300 mgs 3x daily.
300mg is good for overnight while he is in the crate and Im sleeping but its clear he needs less during the day - even though he is still confined to the crate, but can get out for short leash walks and potty breaks.
Welp, Charlie spent the afternoon at the surgery center because he was refusing to eat and was/is very constipated.
So after a long wait and visiting w a lovely vet, Dr E, he now has two new meds (poor guy) a laxative and a appetite stimulate. The stimulate has done an amazing job, although C hates the taste of the liquid. Like, seriously HATES it. Thank goodness its only 1x daily.
@tinamarie1974 poor guy! I really hope he feels better soon.
@tinamarie1974 Oh NO! I hope this time he’s able to get back to full recovery without any more complications!
@Kyeh @tinamarie1974
Good luck Charlie. Be a good boi and take the meds mommy has for you. They’re for your own good!
@tinamarie1974 the appetite booster that the vet used to give my cat, Mirataz was in either pill form or they had a compounding pharmacy that would do ointment. I don’t know what the give dogs but it worked wonders on all my cats that needed it.
So sorry to hear this, but I’m sure he’ll do well under your care! Can’t send well wishes from yekoP
, but these guys cheer us up and I’m sure they would send PB treats to CharlieDoggo if they could! They have 2 doggo buddies and there’s always room for more! Cash has zoomies and Whiskey is just too cool for it.
@ybmuG I miss yekoP!
Wait, do you have HORSES??? If so I am very jealous!
And I wasnt ignoring you, I iony just saw your post
@tinamarie1974 we miss him terribly. The horses help. They aren’t ours. They belong to our neighbors but our yard goes right to their fence so we spoil them with carrots and oatmeal pies and get lots of love back!
@ybmuG awww that is special. Please give them an extra scratch and an extra treat from me!
Time to update the update…
@chienfou
I was actually thinking about Charlie today when I was making dog food. So I came to see what the update was. And of course it’s you asking for an update. 
So I am overdue on providing an update.
Charlie has his post op check up on Monday and it went great. The incision is basically healed and he is allowed to slowly walk up and down stairs again, which means on leash because he does nothing slow.
He also is technically allowed to take of the cone of shame. That said someome is very preoccupied with the surgical area when he has access sooooo it was off for maybe 10 minutes and now its back on. Ill try again this weekend lol.
He is not yet sleeping on the bed, because its rather high and he jumps on and off, so the giant crate was moved upstairs tonight. I get to sleep in my bed for the first time in two weeks
and his crate is right next to me so he doesnt freak out.
More good news, the vet did a rectal exam and decided the surgeon was overly cautious and there is no need for a colonoscopy. Bad news for Charlie is she made a note on his file to give him a rectal at every visit to keep an eye on the area. C will not be happy and may file a formal protest
So thank you all for the well wishes, positive energy. Prayers, etc. He came through like a champ!
@tinamarie1974 {{{CharlieDoggo}}}
Oh, that’s good news. Thoughts are with you and doggo. Even with the progress that has to continually be weighing on you.
Thanks for the update. I know that the last couple weeks have been a major challenge.
Hi ho! Latest update.
Charlie is doing great, but still feels the urge to pee. It gets better every day!
He stopped the trazadone last sat and was able to go back on his paraxotine/Paxil on Sat. Seems it takes 3-4 weeks to fully build up so he is VERY anxious. We are taking his anxiety a moment at a time knowing it will improve soon-ish
@tinamarie1974 Poor guy, he’s got more to be anxious about right now too, with all the recent trauma. I’m glad he’s doing better!
@Kyeh thanks. He will get through it. But its hard on him. This happens any time he has to come off his Paxil.
He just stood in front of me and barked for like four min straight for no reason. Sigh
He is finally sleeping so we are good for the night.
Hoping it foesnt take the full 3-4 weeks.
@tinamarie1974 Oh boy. I hope not either!
@Kyeh @tinamarie1974 I’m so happy he’s doing well! The incessant barking is no fun though. I’m working with Bodhi on that very issue. He’s like that bored toddler who keeps saying “Mum….mum…mum…muuuuuuuuuum….MUM!” It’s maddening.
@Kyeh @sillyheathen its alot. Good luck w Bodhi
For C its a combo of his anxiety and a side effect of when he goes back on the Paxil. The vet explained it as it feels weird at first and that is how he copes.
So I have to remind myself he cannot help it and it will pass.
Hey @charliedoggo!
Come talk to us.
Tell us how awful that cone is and how unfair!
@f00l I will tell him his presence has been requested!
Glad he is starting to feel better. It’s so hard with a pet when you can’t explain why you had to take them to the vet, or have surgery…